Beth Cohen graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in International Studies, but her heart had another calling. Instead of pursuing a career related to her major, she decided to build a career out of her love for horses and passion for teaching. In the seven years that have passed since Beth graduated she has helped over 100 students further their horsemanship and pursue their horse related dreams.
“I came to California for the weather,” says Beth, who was teaching at Manhattan Riding Academy in New York City until she relocated to the West Coast in 2001. “I use to come out and visit a friend from college. I kept thinking ‘why am I living on the East Coast when I could move out here and ride all year long?’”

And that is exactly what Beth did. She moved to California and set up shop at Summer Hawk Ranch in Shadow Hills, only two blocks away from the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center. Although Beth specializes in beginning riders, as a Level Three certified riding instructor with the Certified Horsemanship Association, she can provide lessons in basic dressage, jumping and western pleasure for more advanced riders.
“Growing up in Long Island I didn’t own a horse, so I rode as many horses as I could,” explains Beth. “I rode at the Thomas School of Horsemanship. They had a great facility and I got to ride different horses all the time. I loved to jump, I was a jumping fool. My trainer at the time, Terri Stryker, rode Prix St. Georges and she would teach me all the basics of dressage without my really knowing.”
Now Beth uses the same technique on her students. She incorporates dressage basics into her lessons to help her clients develop a deeper connection with their horse. Instead of developing generic lesson plans for her students, Beth tries to focus on what each student needs to work on at the start of a lesson and their personal goals, then develops a lesson plan. But whatever her plan, she tries to incorporate three things into all her lessons – good horsemanship, safety and fun.
Beth has three horses she uses full-time in her lesson program: Biffy, Bugsy and Granted. Biffy is her main lesson horse, a 21 year old Arabian that Beth describes as a patient schoolmaster. “He knows his job and loves to do it. He really enjoys teaching people. If someone is having problems with their balance he will stop and wait for them to figure it out,” say Beth.
Bugsy is an adorable Paint that does both western pleasure and dressage with his tongue sticking out. Granted is a retired Indio jumper that is now going First Level dressage. Beth says the beauty of her horses is they each require a different level of rider, so her students can move up and ride different horses. Beth also has a few other clients that she pulls from for additional lesson horses.
In addition to working with students and horses in training at Summer Hawk Ranch, Beth is a mobile trainer. She travels throughout the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County training horses and teaching riders.
“I have always had an innate ability to tune into a horse and rider combination during training,” says Beth. “I really try to encourage my students to connect with their horse in an intuitive way. I’m pretty much an easy going trainer. I like to have fun and I don’t yell unless someone is in peril.”
For more information about Beth Cohen Training call 626-354-4308, email bethlaurencohen@gmail.com or visit Beth on the web at www.bethcohenriding.com.